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Scheduling: The 2018 Russian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton aims to leave this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix with one hand on the 2018 Formula One championship, as the paddock heads to the Sochi Autodrom for round 16 of the season.

The race airs exclusively live on Sky Sports, and with it there are some changes to usual proceedings. Martin Brundle steps aside for Russia, as well as the Japanese round next weekend. His replacement is unconfirmed as of writing, but expect Paul di Resta to step up again to commentate alongside David Croft for qualifying and the race.

On the scheduling front, Sky have again demoted the first Formula Two race of the weekend, as they did in Hungary, in favour of The F1 Show. The action airs on a tape-delay instead, which when you consider that two British drivers are battling for the championship shows how little some elements of Sky F1 care about the series.

There is no sign yet of Formula Two appearing live behind the Red Button, but I will update this article if the situation changes. A feature with di Resta and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo from Singapore gets an extended cut on Sky Sports F1 over the Russian weekend, first airing on Thursday evening.

Tom Clarkson joins Channel 4’s team for the weekend, substituting for Lee McKenzize, who is winding down her F1 commitments. Over on 5 Live, coverage is primarily on Sports Extra throughout the weekend due to the Ryder Cup. Also, a reminder for anyone watching the F1 race live, it starts earlier than usual at 12:10 UK time.

Outside of the Formula 1 circles, the British Touring Car Championship ends its season at Brands Hatch, whilst the British Superbike season continues its Showdown phase over in the Netherlands for its annual Assen pilgrimage.

When is the other Drivers Press conference, also, is there no more Team Principle Press Conference? These have been omitted for months now, I occasionally get the second by recording every item, whatever title is shown on the Sky programming schedule, which seems to be worsening by the week.

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